Your career, like any journey, has a beginning, an end and a direction. For many people, the present direction of their career is probably not a result of entirely their own choice. If, for some reason, you are not happy with the direction of your career, there is a way out: Take charge of your career and change its direction.

1. Know yourself

Has it happened with you that after desperately looking for something (e.g., keys) all over the place, you eventually found it right in your pocket or drawer?

That's exactly the case with finding a new career direction. Usually, we try to search for a new career direction by looking all around, for example, at hot jobs, emerging fields, prestigious companies, friend's career, what's safe and so on. Ironically, we fail to look for the answer where it actually lies: inside us.

The secret to finding the right career direction is not to look outside but to look inside. Know yourself and you will automatically know the right direction for your career.

2. Dig deeper

Most people define themselves in terms of what they write in their resumes. That's just the tip of the iceberg. To really know yourself, dig deeper and uncover your:

(a) Strengths
(b) Personality
(c) Values
(d) Interests

(a) Strengths

Your strength is what you do well and enjoy doing it. We never fail to admire strengths in top athletes, painters, writers, leaders but fail to ask, "What is my strength?"

Strengths have a solid connection with a person's career. According to Peter Drucker, a person can only perform from his strength. In other words, mediocrity is guaranteed if we fail to use our strengths. So know your strengths and get into a career that allows you to leverage your strengths to the maximum.

Discover your strengths by asking:

- What am I good at and also enjoy doing?
- What makes me feel energised?
- What comes naturally and easily to me?

(b) Personality

Personality is the sum total of a person's behavioural, temperamental and emotional traits. For example, some people are by nature extrovert and enjoy meeting other people. But some people are born introvert and feel more comfortable when left alone.

Studies show a direct link between a person's personality and his career. Indeed, if you are an extrovert person, you would do well in roles such as sales, marketing, public relations. But an introvert person would be better off in roles that do not require public dealing.

To know your personality in detail and its implications on your career, do take up personality tests such as the Myers Briggs Test Instrument (MBTI).